Multiple graded stakes winner Sidney’s
Candy will make his first start since the Kentucky Derby on May 1 when he takes
on four other 3-year-olds in the $200,000 Swaps Stakes Saturday at Hollywood Park.
The Swaps, which is run at 1 1/8
miles over Cushion Track, is one of a pair of Grade II races on Saturday. The
other is the $150,000 A Gleam Handicap for older fillies and mares at seven
furlongs.
A homebred owned by the Craig Family
Trust and trained by John Sadler, Sidney’s
Candy will be seeking his fifth win in eight starts and his fourth graded
stakes victory of 2010.
Earlier in the year at Santa Anita,
Sidney’s Candy, who finished 17th in the Kentucky Derby after
pressing the quick early pace, won, in succession, the San Vicente, San Felipe
and Santa Anita Derby.
Joe Talamo, who was third aboard
Scorewithcater in the 2009 Swaps, will ride Sidney’s
Candy, who has earned $673,560. This will be the first start for the chestnut
at Hollywood Park.
Skipshot, who finished second in the
Affirmed Handicap on June 19. He was a half-length behind favored Golden Itiz,
who is skipping the Swaps after he failed to work to the satisfaction of
trainer Ron Ellis.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer for
owner Olympia Star Inc., Skipshot, a son of Skip Away and the Sunny’s Halo mare
Heavenly Note, has won three of nine. The $120,000 2-year-old purchase has
earned $93,030.
In his only other attempt at nine
furlongs, he was fifth in the Santa Anita Derby. Skipshot finished 7 ¾ lengths
behind Sidney’s Candy that
afternoon.
Sadler and the Craig Family Trust is
also scheduled to run Twirling Candy and he will be coupled in the wagering
with Sidney’s Candy.
A son of Candy Ride and the Chester
House mare House Of Danzing, Twirling Candy is undefeated in two starts.
However, he has yet to run beyond seven furlongs.
In his 3-year-old debut, Twirling
Candy won an optional claimer by 7 ¾ lengths on May 29, completing the 6 ½
furlongs in a rapid 1:15:08.
Alphie’s Bet will be looking for his
second stakes win of the meet at the distance for owner-breeders Peter O.
Johnson Sr. and Teresa McWilliams and trainer Alexis Barba.
The Tribal Rule colt out of the
Candi’s Gold mare Miss Alphie won the Snow Chief at 1 1/8 miles on April 24,
beating Working Capital and six other California
breds in the main event on California Gold Rush Day on April 24.
Most recently, Alphie’s Bet was
third in the Affirmed, finishing one length behind Golden Itiz. He has won
three of nine and earned $273,320. He owns another win at nine furlongs, having
captured the Sham Stakes on March 6 at Santa Anita.
Completing the field is Summer
Movie, who was fourth in the Affirmed. A gray son of Holy Bull out of the
Summer Squall mare Crazy Summer Fling, Summer Movie has won two of six – both
on turf – for owner George Krikorian and trainer Art Sherman. He has earned
$59,000.
From the inside out, here’s
the field for the 38th Swaps Stakes: Alphie’s Bet, Mike
Smith rides, 120 pounds; Summer Movie, Martin Garcia, 112; Sidney’s
Candy, Joe Talamo, 122; Skipshot, Joel Rosario, 114 and Twirling Candy,
Victor Espinoza, 112.
In the A Gleam, Sadler will try to
make some history when he sends out Emmy Darling against five opponents.
Sadler would become the first
trainer to win the race, which will be run for the 56th time
Saturday, three years in a row. He would also tie Clyde Turk, Bobby Frankel and
Laz Barrera for most A Gleam victories with three. Sadler has won the last two
years with Dearest Trickski and Evita Argentina.
Owned by Ike and Dawn Thrash, Emmy Darling,
a 4-year-old Graeme Hall filly and the Colonial Affair mare Dance Delight,
returns to California after
finishing off the board in the Winning Colors, a Grade III, on May 31 at
Churchill Downs.
Purchased as a 2-year-old for
$260,000 at the Ocala March Sale in Florida
in 2008, Emmy Darling will be aiming for her second stakes win at Hollywood Park.
In her second career start on June
28, 2008, Emmy Darling won the ungraded Landaluce. She is 4-for-18 with
earnings of $233,039.
After finishing far behind Rachel
Alexandra in the Fleur de Lis on June 12 at Churchill Downs, Made For Magic
returns to the scene of her most significant win.
Trained by A C Avila for owners Mike
Lamb and L-Bo Racing, the 5-year-old Cape
Canaveral mare and the Exploit mare Only Seventeen won
the Milady, a Grade II, at nearly 10-1 on May 16.
Claimed for $16,000 by her current
connections last August at Golden
Gate, Made For Magic has since won four of 15.
Overall, she has taken eight of 34 while banking $304,404.
Will O Way, who finished fourth of sixth in the Vanity on June
13, will cut back in distance for owners Edward Taylor and David and Holly
Wilson and trainer Vladimir Cerin. The 4-year-old daughter of Broken Vow and
the Woodman mare Willow Woodman has won three of 14. Her bankroll stands at
$192,500. She is winless in four races at seven furlongs.
Free Flying Soul will be looking for
her third win at Hollywood Park, but
her first in a graded stakes. Previously, she has won the Winter and the Desert
Stormer for owner Marsha Naify and trainer Bruce Headley.
A 5-year-old Quiet American mare out
of the Farma Way mare
Ruby Surprise, Free Flying Soul has six wins in 15 attempts. The top weight at
122 pounds, she has earned $393,177.
Sweet August Moon, who was fifth in
the Desert Stormer on June 12 and Moon de French round out the field.
Owned by Zayat Stables and trained
by Bob Baffert, Moon de French is a 5-year-old Malibu Moon mare out of the
French Deputy mare French Silk who has won three of six. Her bankroll is
$107,302.
From inside out, the field for the A
Gleam Handicap: Will O Way, Tyler Baze rides, 114 pounds; Moon de French,
Martin Garcia, 114; Emmy Darling, Joel Rosario, 115; Free Flying Soul, Mike
Smith, 122; Made For Magic, Omar Berrio, 117 and Sweet August Moon, Victor
Espinoza, 116.
The A Gleam is the fourth of 10
races while the Swaps is the ninth. Post time Saturday is 1 p.m.